Cuomo: As Hurricane Sandy approaches, it's 'no time to take a chance' VIDEO

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and Major General Patrick Murphy of the New York National Guard at a press conference at the State Power Authority Dam on Cohoes Crescent,Road. October 28, 2012 (Jeff Couch/ The Record)

Workers from the Cohoes Department of Public Works vacuum storm drains through the city to remove debris Sunday morning in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy. October 28, 2012 (Jeff Couch/ The Record)

In the face of a looming Hurricane Sandy, state and municipal officials spent Sunday preparing for the high winds and rain expected to be brought by the storm.

Standing in front of the falls at the Crescent Hydroelectric Project in Cohoes, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared the drastic reduction in water levels in the Mohawk Valley water system.

"The purpose of lowering the water levels, including the canal itself, is to create additional storage space to absorb the expected rainfall," said Howard Glaser, director of state operations.

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Beginning Saturday, the Canal Corporation raised the upper gates on the eight movable dams along the Erie Canal between Lock 16 in St. Johnsville, Montgomery County, and Lock 8 in Scotia, Schenectady County, according to Brian Stratton, director of the NYS Canal Corporation. The upper gates have dropped the water level in those areas between six and eight feet. When the Corporation raises the lower gates and uprights on those dams the water level will have been dropped to between 12 and 16 feet.

"Although the storm track indicates right now that these may not be the hardest hit areas, and it may not be a replay of Irene, the Governor's direction is not to take any chances and to be prepared," said Glaser. It is very unusual for the state to raise both gates on the movable dams; during Tropical Storms Irene and Lee, only the upper gates were raised.

As part of the process, the state is lowering water levels at the Blenheim-Gilboa pumped storage power project along the Schoharie Creek, and at the Gregory B. Jarvis small hydroelectric plant, which controls the Hinckley Reservoir in Herkimer and Oneida counties.

In Rensselaer County, winds are expected to be at 30 to 40 miles per hour, with 65 mph gusts in the valleys, and 75 mph gusts at higher elevations, according to the National Weather Service. The storm, expected to last for several days, will also bring heavy rainfall, snow in higher elevations, and a storm surge in the lower part of the state. The severity of these likely weather events will depend on the storm's trajectory.

The state has been preparing in myriad ways. On Saturday, the governor declared a state of emergency, prompting the mobilization of 1,100 members of the National Guard, and the deployment of Black Hawk helicopters, light utility helicopters and over 900 HumVees.

Since Thursday, the Canal Corporation has been working with citizens to move vessels to safe harbor, and off moorings from which they could be torn in high winds.

"Government is doing everything it can do," said the governor, "but we want to make sure the people at home remember that they have a responsibility in this also.

"We need you to act prudently," continued Cuomo. "This is not the time to take a chance."

In the city of Cohoes, just one and a half miles south of the Crescent Dam, Mayor John T. McDonald III is not taking a chance, declaring a state of emergency Sunday.

Members of the department of public works were working around the city checking and cleaning catch-basins. Catch basins, as their name implies, are basins set below grates that serve to catch debris caught in rainfall runoff and keep it from entering the storm drains and causing them to malfunction.

To reduce that debris, and due to the season, city employees were also picking up leaf bags in areas especially prone to flooding.

"I know it sounds kind of crazy, but bags of leaves can be really problematic during a heavy rain event," said McDonald. Leaves, and especially bags of leaves, can float along streets and alleys during a storm and block storm drain inlets and cause or worsen flooding.

The Mayor is encouraging Cohoes residents to pay especial attention to the city of Cohoes website and the Facebook page of Mayor McDonald for timely and pertinent updates.

"Generators are ready, vehicles are gassed, and pumps are in place," said the mayor. "We are ramping up to do what we do best--respond when the citizens needs us."

Across the river, the city of Troy is making their own preparations.

"The public utility and the public works departments are on standby," said Mike Fraser, a spokesperson for the city. "They are ready to go and mitigate any damaging effects the storm might have."

The city has been working to clear areas of loose branches and remove trees that might be in danger of falling, especially near storm drains that might become clogged.

"Last year's storm taught us a lot and the guys are ready to go should the impact be as bad as people are predicting," said Fraser.

Simultaneously, the Red Cross of Northeastern New York has been acquiring the volunteers and materials to set up shelters in the Capital Region. In Troy, the Red Cross is working on setting up a shelter at the Italian Community Center with the local Emergency Management Team.

"I think the major thing everyone is preparing for is high winds," said Poestenkill Town Supervisor Dominic Jacangelo. While high winds are the major concern throughout Rensselaer County, high elevations are expected to see winds of up to 75 mph.

Rather than the severe flooding the village saw from Irene, he is expecting high winds will bring down trees and branches, knocking out power and forcing road closures. The Poestenkill firehouse has also been prepared as an emergency shelter.

"Government is doing everything it can do, but we want to make sure the people at home remember that they have a responsibility in this also. We need you to act prudently," said the governor. "This (storm) is not to be trifled with."

In case of an emergency, residents in all areas should call 911. For non-emergency situations requiring police or public safety intervention, Troy residents can call the Troy Police Department at 270-4411.

The Troy Department of Public Works dispatcher can be contacted at 270-4579, and the Department of Public Utilities, which deals with water, flooding, and sewer problems, can be reached at 237-0611.